Saturday, October 23, 2010

I'm totally not crazy about watermelons myself. I don't like anything where I have to spit out seeds. You?

This entirely random post has been brought to you by a recent screening of What's Eating Gilbert Grape? (1993) in which just about everyone is excellent even though people only talk about it today in terms of Leonardo DiCaprio's first entirely deserved Oscar nomination. I meant to watch just one scene from it the other day and ended up sitting through the whole thing. Addictive, I tell ya. There's so many choice scenes but one moment I fell hard for all over again is when Johnny Depp's enormously obese mother (played by Darlene Cates), embarrassed to meet her son's new girl (Juliette), introducers herself with a shameful "I wasn't always like this." Juliette merely repeats her phrase "I wasn't always like this" and then a barely visible shrug. It's this unlikely mix of total empathy, unsentimental observation (we're always changing), and 'whatever -- nice to meet'cha' nonchalance. I love Juliette.

Pssst. Interview with Juliette Lewis is coming early next week... I'm behind in transcribing.

Just an fyi that there are seedless watermelons on the market. They're quite popular and have surpassed the old time variety with seeds. In a way this is too bad as that many believe that watermelons with seeds have a sweeter taste.

I'm embarassed to admit that I've never seen 'What's Eating Gilbert Grape.' I must make a mental note to watch this sometime soon...

Any good mention of Gilbert Grape is all right by me. I love, love, LOVE this film. I'm so thrilled you covered the "I wasn't always like this" part. I also love the John C.Reilly/Crispin Glover interaction, especially when Glover drives the hearse to the opening of the fast food joint.

Just as long as we're totally clear that you totally jacked me into coughing up the Rabbit Hole grade, and continue to withhold on the Juliette interview. This makes clear that I am a worthless negotiator and poker player, but also that you completely owe me. Where is the trust? Why can't you be a merciful god?